Thunder in the mountains

Keith Miller

Another Left Turn

racing2you@hotmail.com

Friday Night Thunder kicked off under threatening skies at Elkins Raceway. The rain held off long enough to see some great racing in two of our divisions.

The Super Late Model car count was down but the action was good as Billy Holbert notched his first victory to kick off the 2018 season. He took the Ace Metal works car to victory lane over veteran Bob Gordon.

Shane Hitt was fast qualifier but suffered problems in his heat race and DNF the feature. Dylan Lewis in his first Late Model start finished third. Shawn Polling finished fourth with Hitt finishing fifth.

The FASTRACK Crate late models were up next and it was a wonderful race. Troy Frazier, who calls himself “the Mad Mexican,” set sail but was dogged lap after lap by Billy Beachler. Most of the race these two were side by side! Kyle Lukon had the best seat to watch this battle and was ready to pounce if either had slipped just a little.

At the finish it was Frazier, Beachler and Lukon, in that order. Corey Allman and D.J. Miller rounded out the top five.

The Open Wheeled Modifieds had 18 cars show up on a rain-threatening night and they took to the track with defending xhamp Jamie McCloud leading the way. Dave Defibaugh and Mitch Thomas won heats also.

As they took the green flag the bottom fell out and a torrential rain began to fall, washing out the features for the Modifieds and Street Stocks.

J.P. Tallman, Jason Ammons and Anthony Arbogast won the SS heats.

A new class has been announced — the EDGE Hot Mods had a few cars there and Danny Thomas won the heat for these lower-powered Open Wheeled cars. This should become a great beginners division.

I had a serious problem with the Mud Bus once again in hot laps and we are trying to get things repaired and be there for this week’s action.

This is the 66th year of racing at Elkins Raceway and you should be making plans to attend each week and support these hard-working local and regional racers. Thunder in the Mountains is the place to be for the best in family entertainment and great competition.

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All three traveling series of NASCAR visited the “Monster Mile” of concrete at Dover International Speedway.

First up Friday afternoon the Camping World Truck series took on Miles the Monster in the Jegs 200. Noah Gragson took the first stage win in his KBM Tundra. Veteran Johnny Sauter took the second stage win. Sauter and Gragson were racing hard for the win on the last lap and Gragson crashed out of the race. Sauter drove on to victory in his GMS racing truck.

On Saturday, the Xfinity series ran the One Main Financial 300 and once again the $100,000 Dash for Cash bonus was up for grabs.

Elliott Sadler took stage one, with teammate Justin Allgaier winning stage two. These Jr Motorsports drivers were both in the running for the DFC bonus. The two were racing hard and traded paint coming to the checkered flag. Allgaier was able to hold on and grab the win and the nice bonus check. Sadler finished a disappointing second.

Daniel Hemric was a solid third. Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick rounded out the top five.

On a special note, Johnny Sauter drove the GMS Xfinity car because last week’s winner, Spencer Gallagher, failed a random drug test and is now suspended indefinitely, pending his completion of the NASCAR Road to Recovery program, which he has quickly enrolled in.

On Sunday, the Monster Energy Cup series took on the Monster for the Drive for Autism 400. Kevin Harvick set sail and spanked the competition winning both stages and the race. Clint Bowyer almost stole the race away as he held the lead with 80 laps to go when rain caused a red flag. The track was dried and when the final laps wound down, Harvick caught his Stewart Haas teammate and passed him for the win.

Kurt Busch made it three Stewart Haas Fords in the top five, finishing fifth. The Trucks and the Cup teams head to Kansas Motor Speedway this weekend. The Xfinity series has a couple of weeks off returning to action at Charlotte.

I’ll be right here to bring you all the action and remember, at the end of the straightaway there’s another left turn!